Automatic chuck and wire feed



March 27, 1928.

E. J. HORNBERGER AUTOMATIC CHUCK AND WIRE FEED Filed July 6. 1926 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.-

l y 1,663,599 PATENT OFFICE.

'EARL J'. HORNBERGER, 0F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN G. OLIVER,

DOING BUSINESS AS BARDON AN n OLIVER, oF CLEVELAND, omo.

A'IOMATIC CHUCK AN D WIRE FEED.

Applicationled July 6,

I The apparatus described in the following. specification and shown in the drawings is designed to automatically chuck and feed the stock through the rotating spindle of an ordinary turret lathe and although the drawings show a construction which can be readily attached to machines which were not originally equipped with automatic chucking and wire feeding mechanism, it lo will be clear to those skilled in the art that my invention is also adapted to be designed and built as an integral part of a machine.

Among the objects of my invention are the provision of apparatus which can. be l5 readily attached to a standard turret machine and which willautomatically perform the functions of the hand operated chucking and wire feeding mechanism; the provision of automatic chucking and wire feeding '20 mechanism for machine tools operated by a fluid under pressure and controlled by a valve; the. provision of automatic chucking and wire `feeding mechanism which may be easily adjusted 'to feed different lengths of stocks; and the provision of an apparatus for accomplishing the above results `which is simple, economical to manufacture and positive in its action. v

It will be understood that although this specification describes my invention as it is applied to turret machines, it may be used fgr any other purpose for which it isrsuit-l a le. My invention is shown in the accom ing drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing nay-invention attached to a stand-l ard turret machine, said machine being only partly shown. i Fig. 2 is a plan section .on line II-II of Fig. 1.. Fig.` Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Referring'A to thev drawings, 'the piston 1v is held in place on the piston rod2 by means' of the nut 3 and is adapted to reciprocate lin the cylinder 4. The cylinder 4 has a downwardly extending flange 5 and an upwardly extending portion 6. The horizontal rod 7 is `held at one end in an aperture 8 inthe main frame 9 of 'the machine and at the other end by thesuplorting standard 10. The upwardly exten g portlon 6 of the pany e is a Section 'on une III- III of 1926, serial No. 120,755.

cylinder 4 is drilled to fit the rod 7 which serves as a support for the cylinder and its attached parts as shown in Fig. 1. A tie rod l1 is secured to the main frame 9 by the nuts 12 and extends out through a hole in the downwardly extending flange 5 of the cylinder 4.- The end of the rod 11 which extends through the hole in the flange 5- is threaded and ttcd with nuts 13 and 14 which are adapted to be tightenedl against the sides of the flange 5 thus holding the cylinder 4 from longitudinal movement., If, however, it is desired to move the cylinder 4 longitudinally for adjustment, it can 'be readily accomplished by turning both the nuts 13 and 14 toward or away from the main frame 9.

The piston 1 is adapted to be moved in the cylinder 4- in either direction by means of fluid under pressure such as compressed air or liquid under pressure. Fig. 1 shows the piston in itsposition nearest the cylinder head 15. The piston rod 2 extends out through the stuffing box 16 which` is in the cylinder head17 and has a bearing at its outer end in the -frame 18 which is an integral part of cylinder head 17. The cross head 19 is adjustably attached to the piston rod 2 by. means of the nuts 20 and 21 and 'extends through slots 22 and 23in the frame 85 18. This cross head 19 moves with the piston rod 2 and the slots 22 and 23 serve as guides and bearings for its movement. Pivoted at the ends of cross head 19 are the horizontal links 24 and 25 which4 extend toward the cylinder 4 and are disposed on 'either side of it. These links 24 and 25 are pivotally connected by screws 26 to the vertical levers 27 and 28 .which are pivotally mounted on the pins 29. The pins 29 are 95 screwed into ears 30 which form a part of the upwardly extending ortion 6 of the cylinder 4. The upper en s of the-vertical levers 27 and 28 d'are pivotally-connected-to vthe chuck actuating collar 31 as is best shown in Fig. 4. v

When the piston 1 is' in the position shown in Fig. '1 the mechanical connections above described hold the chuck actuatmgI .collar 31 and the cone wedge 32 in a posltlon. to' hold the chuck fingers 33 apart thus causing the gripping of the work in the chuck ]aws, as will be later described.

When the fluid control lvalve of known type (not shown) is turned to allow the no LLA duid under pressure to enter through pipe 34 and to open pipe 35 to the atmosphere or to an exhaust pipe connection the piston l will be forced to the opposite end oit the cylinder 4 and the piston rod 2,the cross head 19, the horizontal links 24 and 25 and the lower ends of the vertical levers 27 and 28 will be moved in the same direction. The vertical levers 27 and 28, however, are pivoted on the tired pins 29 so that a movement of the lower ends ot' these levers in one direction causes the upper ends to move in the other direction. Thus the chuck actuating collar 3l and the cone wedge 32 will be moved toward the main trame 9 ot the ma Chine when the piston l moves in the opposite direction and the lingers 33 will be released, releasing the grip of the chuck upon the stock and allowing it to be. Lted into working position in the machine by the automatic feeding mechanism which will be described later.

lt is evident that when the iiuid control valve is turned to allow the iiuid under pressure to enter the Cylinder through pipe 35 and opens the pipe 34 to the atmosphere or exhaust pipe connection the piston will move toward the cylinder head l5 and through the movementof the mechanical connections, above described, the cone wedge 32 will be forced between the iingers 33, spreading them and causing the chuck to grip the stock. As long as the duid control valve is left in one position, the piston will be held in its corresponding position and the stock will either be held tightly by the chuck or be loose for feeding.

The valve which controls the How of the tiuid under pressure may be of any desired type which will shut ol the Huid supply, and which will open one end of the cylinder to the atmosphere or exhaust pipe connection when the other end is opened to the fluid under pressure. I prefer that this valve be operated by a single manually operated handle having three positions: (l) oft', (2) stock chucked, and (3) stock loose.

The mechanism employed for feeding the stock 36 through the hollow rotating spindle of the machine is operated by the movement of the same piston l as operates the stock chucking mechanism. The horizontal rod 7 which supports the cylinder 4 and its accessories extends out from the main Jframe 9 of the machine and is supported at its outer end by the' standard l0. The stock 36 is also supported by the standard l0, a bushing 37 being provided in which the stock 36 can rotate.

rhe rod 7 is provided with a keyway 38 in which a long sliding key 39 fits. This key 39 carries on its top surface a series of ratchet teeth 4() and is adapted to be slid back and :forth in the keyavay 33 bv the key operatinn collar The key operating collar l neeaeeo slides on the rod 7 and has a boss 42 on its top surface in which there is a vertical slot 43. The cross pin 44 fits in the slot 43 and joins the upper ends ot the yoke arms 45 of a double ended feed operating yoke, best shown in )F ig. 3. The arms of the feed operating yoke are connected by the cross member 46 and are pivoted in the frame 18 on the pins 47. The yoke arms 45 extend below the pivot point 47 a distance considerably less than they extend above and support a cross pin 48 at their lower ends. This cross pin 48 its in a. vertical slot 49 in the sleeve 50 which has a sliding it on the piston rod 2. As the feed operating yoke is'pivoted at a point considerably below its center it is evident that a small movement of the lower ends. of the yoke arms 45 and the cross pin 48 will cause a proportionately large movement or' the upper ends of the yoke arms 45 and the cross pin 44.

The piston rod 2 is threaded to take the nuts 5l and 52. These nuts 5l and 52 also serve as adjustable abutments which, when the piston rod is moved, strike the sleeve 50 and cause it to move accordingly. This movement is transmitted through the cross pin 48. the yoke arms 45 and the cross pin 44 to the key operating collar 41.

The stock mover 53 is adapted to be moved along the rod 7 and is equipped with a pawl 54 which engages the ratchet teeth on the key 39. These teeth are so shaped that when the key is moved toward the main frame 9 'of the machine, the pawl 54 drops into engagement and the stock mover 53 is moved with the key 39. When the key is moved in the other direction the pawl is not engaged and the stock mover 53 remains stationary. The stock mover 53 has an upwardly extending portion 55 in which is a bushing 56. The stock 36 passes through and rotates in bushing 56. A collar 57 is held in place on the stock- 36 by means of the set screw 58 to form an abutment against which the upwardly extending portion 55 of the stock mover 53 pushes to feed the stock 36 forward.

The travel of the piston l back and forth in the cylinder 4 causes the yoke arms 45 of the double ended feed yoke to swing forward and back on the pivot pins 47. This movement is transmitted to the key 39 through the key operating colla-r 4l and through the pawl and ratchet mechanism gives the stock mover 53 and the stock 36 astep-by-step forward movement. In starting to operate the machine the stock mover is set at the end of the key farthest from the main frame 9 and when it is in this position the collar 57 is secured to the stock 36 in a position contacting with the` upwardly extending portion 55 ot the stock e `Then the. stock mover and again.

A length o f stroke of the upper ends of the movement -of the key 39 until the pawl 54 will not engage the ratchet teeth of the key 39, the pawl must be lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth and the stock mover 53 and collar 57 be moved back to the starting position to be made ready to start feeding the stock forward The distance that the stock 36 is fed forward b one stroke of the piston 1 is controlled y th movement of the upper ends of .the yoke arms y5 and this may be regulated by adjusting the position of and distance between the nuts 51 and 52 upon rod 2. If the nut 52 is screwed away from the piston V1 it will contact with collar 50 relatively earlier in the piston stroke away from the frame 9 and the nut 52 will push the collar 50 and the lower ends of yoke arms further and proportionately increase the yoke arms 45 causing the stock 36` to be fed forward a relatively greater distance. In a similar manner, if nut 5l is screwed toward the iston 1', nut 51 will engage the collar ear ier in the piston stroke toward the frame -9 and the nut 51 will push the collar 50 and the key 39 will beslid a relatively greater distance toward the standard 10. This will also cause an increase in the y the stock is fed forward and the chuck should be gripping the stock before the -feeding mechanism starts to move back preparatory to a forward feeding movement. This is accomplished in my invention by providing the proper distance or lost motion between nuts 51 and 52. The mechanical connections wliich operate the chuck are positively operated byI the piston '1. Considering the apparatus in the position shown in Fig.' 1 of thedrawings, as soon as piston 1 startsv to move to the left the chuck operating cone wedge 32 starts to move to the ri ht, releasing the chuck before' the nut 52 strikes the collar 50 and sets the stock feedingmechanism in motion. Similarly, on the return stroke of the piston 1, the chuck operating cone wedge 32 engages the fingers 33 and causes the stock to be firmly gripped by the chuck before the nut 5-1 strikes the collar '50 to start the. stock feeding mechanism on' its return stroke.' As the' collar 50 hasa sliding it on the piston rod 2- it is notmoved by any movement of the piston rod unless nut 51 or nut 52 is in contact with and pushing against the side 'of the. collar 50.

The 'lathe to which my automatic feeding mechanism is attached is partially shown in the drawings. It is a standard type of turret lathe having a hollow drive spindle through which thebar stock is fed. The chuck shown is of the well known pushout type and is operated by the fingers 33 and the cone wedge 32. .The ilse of my invention is not limited to the particular type of machine and chuck shown and described in this specification but may be used in connection with any type of chuck or machine to which it is adaptable.

1. Fluid pressure operated stock feeding and fchucking apparatus comprising chuck operating means, stock feeding means, al

source of supply of fluid undei ressure, a cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, positive motion mechanical connections operated by said piston and connected to said chuck operating means, lost motion mechanical connections between said piston and said stock feeding means whereby said stock feeding 'means is operated only during a part of the movement of said piston, and a valveadapted to control the action of said Huid under pressure on said piston.

2. Aiuid pressure operated stock feeding and chucking attachment for hollow spindle turret machines, comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, stock chucking Vmeans, stock feeding' means, a cylinder having an opening in each end, a piston 'in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston, means connected to saidpiston rod for operating said stock feeding means, means Y attached to said piston rod for operating said stock chucking means, and valve means adapted to simultaneously connect said supply of iuid under ressure to the opening' in one end of said cy inder and open the opening in the other end of said cylinder to the exhaust.

3. Fluid ressure operated means for operating wor chucking and feeding mechanisms, comprising'a single iuid pressure cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, valve means controlling the flow of fluid under pressure into and out of said cylinder and mechani-l cal connections between said piston and said work chucking and feeding mechanisms whereby the movement of said piston in one direction first causes the chucking mechanism to release the work and then causes the feeding mechanism to feed the work and movement of said piston in the opposite direction first causes the chucking mechanism to engage theI work and then causes the feeding mechanism to be reset for the next feeding stroke. l

fue

d. F luid pressure operated stock feeding and clineking meehamsm comprising stock feeding means, a stock chuck, a chuck operating lever, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod extendingoutwardly through an end of said cylinder;I a cross head attached to said piston rod, means connecting said cross head with a chuck operating lever, a pair of adjustably spaced nuts mounted on said piston rod, a collar adapted to slide on said piston rod between said spaced nuts. and a lever operatively 'connecting said collar and said stock feeding means to actuate said stock-feeding means.

5. Fluid pressure operated stock feeding and chucking mechanism, comprising stock feeding means, a stock chuck, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in -said cylinder, means connect-ing said source of supply of fluid under pressure with said cylinder, means controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, means connecting said piston rod and said chuck whereby movement of said piston operates said chuck, a pair` of spaced abutments on said piston rod, a collar slidable on said piston rod between said abut-ments, and means connecting said collar and said stock feeding means whereby movement of said collar operates said stock feeding means.

6. In a fluid pressure operated chucking mechanism, a source of supply lof fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston,

a frame supporting the outer end of said piston rod, a cross head attached to said piston rod and adapted to slide on said frame, a connecting link having one end pivotally attached to said cross head and its opposite end pivotally attached to a chuckI operating lever, a chuck adapted to be operated by said chuck operating lever, and means controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston.

7. In a fluid pressure operated stock feedying mechanism, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said pis-n ton, a frame supporting'` the outer nd of said piston rod, a pair of spaced abutments on said piston rod, a collar adapted to slide on said piston rod between said spaced abutments, a lever having'its fulcruin on said' f frame, one end of said lever being adapted to be actuated by movement of said collar and the opposite endadapted to operate stock feeding means, and means controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston.

8. In a fluid pressure operated stock feeding and chucking mechanism, a source of supply /iof uid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston, a frame supporting the outer end of said piston rod, a cross head attached to said piston rod and adapted to slide on said frame, a connecting link having one end pivotally attached to said cross head and its opposite end pivotally attached to a chuck operating lever, a chuck adapted to be operated by said chuck operating lever, apair of spaced abutments on said piston rod, a collar adapted to slide on said piston rod between said spaced abutments, stock feeding means, a stock feeding lever havin its fulcrum on said frame, one end of sai stock feeding lever being operatively connected to said collar for movement there- 'with and the opposite end of said stock feeding leverbeing operatively connected to Asaid stock feeding means` and means controlling the action of said fluid under pressure 011 said piston.

9. In fluid pressure operated stock feeding and chueking mechanism, stock feedin means, a chuck, a source of supply of flui under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending through an end of said cylinder, a frame supporting the outer end of. said piston rod, a cross head attached to said piston rod and adapted to slide on said frame, a connecting link having one end pivotally attached to said cross head and its opposite end pivotally attached to an op erating lever for said chuck, a pair of adjustably spaced abutment members mounted on said piston rod, a collar adapted to slide on said piston rod between said spaced abutment members, a lever having its fulcrum on said frame, one end of said lever being operatively connected to said collar and the opposite end operatively connected to said stock feeding means, and valve means controlling the action of said` fluid under pressure on said piston.

l0. In a lathe the combination with the,

hollow spindle adapted to have wire or bar stock fed longitudinally through it, of a stock chuck mounted upon the spindle adapted to be operated to grip and to release the stock,v chuck operating means adapted to open and close said chuck, stock feeding means adapted to be operated to feed the work forward through said spindle and chuck, a fluidactuated piston, means conneeting said piston and said chuck operating means whereby movement of said piston in one direction causes saidchuck to grip the stock and movement of said piston in the opposite direction causes said chuck to release the stock, and lost motion mechanical connections between said piston and said stock feeding means whereby movement of said stock feeding means due to the movement of said piston is delayed until said piston has moved a predetermined portion of its corresponding stroke.

11. In stock feeding and chucking mecha- 'nismthecombination with the hollow lathe spindle, stock chuck, chuck operating device,

and stock feedingdev'ice, a chuck operating lever fulcrumed on la fixed point and having one end operatively engaging said chuck operating device, a stock feeding lever pivoted on a fixed point and having one end operativel engaging said stock feeding device, andy lost motion mechanical connections between said chuck operating andl stock feeding levers whereby movement of said chuck operating lever about its fulcrum causes movement of said stock feeding lever throughout only that portion of the move-` mentof said chuck operating lever that occurs after the lost motion of said connections has been taken up.

12. In a fluid 'pressure operated stock feeding and chucking mechanism Afor hollow spindlelathes, a source lof supply of fluid under pressure, stock feeding means, stock chucking means, a cylinder having a fluidn port at each end, a double acting piston in said cylinder, fluid control means adapted to admit Huid into one of said ports to actuate said piston and to permit fluid to flow out of thefother of said ports, mechanical connections between said piston and' said chuck operating means whereby movement of said piston causes corresponding movement of said chuck operating means to cause -said chuck to engage the stock when said piston moves in 'one direction and to release the stock when .said piston moves inthe other, direction, and lost motion mechanical connections between said piston and said stock feeding means whereby movement .of said piston causes movement of said stock feeding means, such movement of said stock feeding means being delayed on account of said lost motion mechanical connections until .said piston has moved a predetermined portion of its stroke.

13. In a `Huid pressure operatedl stock feeding and chuckng mechanism for. hollow spindle lathes, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, stock feeding means, stock chucking means, a cylinder having a iuid port at one end, 1a piston in said cylinder, fluid control means adapted to admit fluid into said port to actuate said piston', 'mechanical connections between said piston and `said chuck operating means whereby movement of sa1d piston causes corresponding movement of 'saidchuck operating means to` 

